Siphon flow drinking fountain



March 13, 1956 E. B. JOHNSON SIPHON FLOW DRINKING FOUNTAIN 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 2. 1949 FIG. I.

INVENTOR. EARL B. JOHNSON March 13, 1956 B. JOHNSON 2,737,967

SIPHON FLOW DRINKING FOUNTAIN Filed April 2, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 WI/ll.

INVENTOR. EARL B. JOHNSON Wad A TTORNEY United States Patent SIPHON FLOW DRINKING FOUNTAIN Earl B. Johnson, Freehold, NJ. Application April 2, 1949, Serial No. 85,066 12 Claims. (Cl. 137-145) V i This invention relates'to improvements in water fountains and more particularly to drinking fountains of thethan said outer peripheral edge portion, said reservoir preventing flow of water from the container into the reservoir except at the upper part thereof. Said reservoir is of a shape and weight to be buoyed by water in the container when less than a predetermined small amount of water is in the reservoir, and to sink in the water when the reservoir receives a predetermined larger amount of water from the container.

An upwardly pointed water supply jet is mounted in the lower part of the container. Water under pressure is supplied through said jet, and a yieldable sealing disk is secured to and under the axial portion of the reservoir and disposed over and adjacent to said jet and is adapted to rest upon the jet to stop water flow therefrom when the reservoir sinks.

A cover mounted on the container of said patent is disposed over the reservoir and said space to prevent undesired material from falling into the reservoir and said space, and comprises a bowl-shaped intra-marginal part in and spaced from the reservoir, said bowl-shaped part being provided near its bottom with an opening communicating with the reservoir.

The general operation of the fountain of Figure 1 is the same as in my said patent. When water is drunk from the drinking space, the level in the drinking space and reservoir is lowered until the reservoir floats and raises the disk from the'jet, allowing water to flow from the jet over the rim of the reservoir and through the inlet openings of the bowl-shaped part until the reservoir sinks, causing the disk to close the jet, whereupon the operation may be repeated.

An important object of the present invention is to provide a-fountain having water supply control means of the general type herein referred to but having also a structure whereby the open water or drinkingarea is entirely separate and remote from the water space within the container and reservoir, and whereby substantially any desired size open water or d rin'king area will be automatically supplied with water without correspondingly increasing the size of the container and reservoir.

To this end I provide a fountain structure whereby water is conveyed by siphon from'within said reservoir into a trough entirely outside said container. In one form of the invention said trough is annular andsurrounds the container and is an integral part of said cover.

2,737,967 Patented Mar. 13, 1956 In another form of this invention the water is conveyed by the siphon from within the reservoir into a separate trough or vessel of substantially. any desired length size or shape, the trough or vessel being a separate structure from the container or cover.

Another object of the invention is to provide a founw tain structure whereby the siphon flow of water is automatically started when the cover is pressed down over the container and reservoir.

Still another object is to provide a co-acting valve structure in the water supply conduit whereby the water supply is automatically shut off when the fountain is disconnected from the water supply pipe.

And another object is to provide an automatic shut-oil valve whereby the water supply line is easily flushed for the removal-0f floating particles.

The inventive features for the accomplishment of these and other objects are shown herein embodied in several forms of drinking fountains. One form includes a container and reservoir of the type illustrated, described and claimed in my application and patent herein referred to but instead of a bowl-shaped cover, it includes a cover so formed as to provide an air chamber above the water within the container and reservoir, said cover being provided with a wide downwardly extending sleeve-like rim portion movably fitting around the upper rim portion of the container. A siphon tube passing through the upper peripheral portion of the cover is secured fast to the cover and held in position to convey water from within the reservoir over the upper rim portion of the container into trough or vessel space outside of and remote from the interior of the container and reservoir, and having substantially the same water level as the reservoir.

With installation and use of this kind of fountain difficulty is sometimes encountered by floating particles clogging the small hole in the jet. This is due mainly to insufiicient flushing of the water supply line before fountain is installed. For greater convenience in flushing the line and for greater convenience when removing the fountain for clearing the jet hole, I have provided an automatic shut-0E valve within the bushing structure.

In the accompanying drawing showing by way of example several of the many possible embodiments of the invention, 7

Fig. 1 shows an elevation, partly in vertical axial section, of a composite structure of the general type illustrated, described and claimed in my applications and patent herein referred to, and includes the automatic shut-01f valve.

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan of the disk mounting means;

Fig. 3 is an elevation, partly in vertical axial section, showing one form of the invention and illustrating the cover and siphon tube supplying water to a separate trough or vessel;

Fig. 4 shows a partial vertical axial section, partly in elevation, of another form of the invention illustrating the cover and siphon tube, the cover having integral therewith an annular trough-like vessel disposed around the container; and

Figs. 5 and 6 are enlarged vertical axial sectional views showing the automatic shut-off valve in different positions.

In the forms of the invention of Figs. 1 to 4 the container 10, the reservoir 11, and the jet 21 are similar to those shown in my application Serial Number 26,277. The container 10 is formed with a vertical upper outer portion 10A extending downward to near the water level A and curving inward toward the reservoir 11. The upper portion 11A of the reservoir 11' curves relatively inwardly and downwardly from the vertical portion 10A of the container 10. This provides a water space 12.

The lower portion of the reservoir 11 is provided with a circular clip 13 (Figures 2 and 4) which is secured to the reservoir 11 by rivets 14. This clip 13 provides an elongated space 15 (Figure 4) for an elongated; rubber disk 16 which is approximately the length of the space 15. A circular opening 17 through the clip 13 exposes a circular area of the rubber disk 16, which can be moved along with the space 15, whereby a different.

area of the rubber disk is exposed to the circular opening 17.

The lower central portion of the container 10 is provided with a downwardly extending recess 18 receiving a re-enforcing washer 19 against which is engaged a flange 19A on a threaded tubular body 20 of a jet 21. A look nut 22 threaded to fit the body 19 is screwed tightly against an outer re-enforcing washer 23 pressed against the outside of the container below the recess 18, thus making a water tight connection. Water under pressure is supplied to the jet as will be explained.

The cover 24 of Figure 1 is bowl-shaped and formed with an outer downturned loose rim 25, a central downwardly curved portion 26 provided with inlet openings 27 and a drinking space 28.

The upper peripheral edge of the reservoir 11 is provided with an out-turned lip 11B loosely engageable with the vertical portion 19A of the container to position the reservoir for up and down movement. The lip is bent upwardly at spaced places around the lip to provide stops 11C engageable with the cover 24, to limit upward movement of the reservoir.

The upper edge of the container 10 is provided with a cut-away 10D forming an outlet passage for air which may be trapped under the upper part of the cover 24.

Normal operation is substantially the same as in my said Patent 2,452,305. mally rests upon the upper end of the jet 21 as in Fig. 4 stopping flow of water when fountain is filled and reservoir 11 has sunk to its lowest operative position as in Figure 3. As water is removed from within the drinking space the reservoir 11 rises raising the disk and allowing the water to flow upwardly through the jet 21 and overflow into the reservoir until the latter sinks again and stops the flow.

In the forms of the invention shown in Figures 3 and 4 the fountain structure is the same as in Figure 1 with the exception of the cover 24B of Figure 3 and 24C of Figure 4 which are formed with the central portions 24E curved upwardly thereby providing an air chamber 29 above the container 10 and reservoir 11. A small opening 30 corresponding to the cut-out 10D ofv Figure 1, is provided for air passage so the fountain will function as disclosed in my Patent No. 2,452,305.

A siphon tube 31 is secured (preferably soldered) in the covers 2413 and 24C with the inner end 32 extending to near the bottom of the interior of' the reservoir 11 and serving as a stop for the upward movement of the reservoir. The outer end 33 of the siphon tube is disposed at a slightly higher level than the inner end 32 so that the siphon will not continue to operate to expose the inner end, and thus allow air to enter the siphon tube and render it ineffective if the water supply should be temporarily shut off or stopped.

A siphon tube of round cross section with lower inner end and an inside diameter as large as 34 inch will operate properly to retain the siphon charged when the outer end is exposed.

Instead of the annular drinking vessel or trough D, I may provide an entirely separate trough 25E (Fig. 3), which may be long and narrow or of any desired shapeor size and disposed horizontally at any angle relative to the container 10.

With the structures as disclosed in Figures 3 and 4, the reservoir 10 being nearly or entirely filled, the cover 2413 or 24C is placed over the container 10 and reservoir 11 and pressed downward while the opening is In operation, the rubber disk 16 noropen, or closed by a finger thereover thus creating air pressure within the air chamber 29 sufiicient to press downwardly upon the surface of the water within the container 10 and reservoir 11 and force water upwardly through the siphon tube 31 and start siphon water fiow from within the reservoir 11. This flow continues until the level in the trough 25D or 25E is as high as the level in the reservoir, and is continued as needed until the cover is lifted or removed.

Even if the rim 25B or 25C is looser than shown, the opening 30 is small enough to retain the air sufficiently to build up enough pressure on the water in the reservoir, when the cover is lowered, to start the siphon flow. If the rim 25B or 25C is as loose as the rim 25 of Figure 1, the opening 30 may be omitted.

The automatic shut-off valve (Figures 1 to 6) coinprises an externally threaded bushing forming a valve body 44 provided with a small diameter bore 45 at the lower intake end and a larger diameter bore 46 at the upper discharge end, thereby forming an upwardly facing shoulder 47. A valve core 48 is formed with an upper. enlargement 49 near the upper end slightly larger than the bore 45 and having a conical upper face 50 substantially fitting a seat 51 formed within the lower end of the bore 52 of the jet body 20. The lower face of the enlargement 49 forms a shoulder 53 that rests upon theshoulder 47 when the valve is in normal position. The lower end of the valve core 43 is formed with a head 54 and an upper upwardly facing guide cone 55 and an intermediate shouldered groove 56 receiving a rubber washer 58 provided with a hole slightly smaller in diameter than the inner diameter of the groove 56, which is assembled by being stretched over thehead 54 and is held in position by the walls of the groove.

In use the bushing or valve body 44 is installed in the water supply pipe 59 in the usual manner; and when water supply is provided under pressure, the flow through the bores 45 and 46 carries the core 48 upwardly until the rubber washer 58 seats against the lower face 69 of the valve body as shown in Figure 5 and completely stops the flow of water.

The fountain is installed by screwing the threaded jet body 20 into the threaded bore 46 of the valve body 44, whereupon the seat 51 contacts the conical face 50 of the core 48 and forces the rubber Washer 58 away from the face 60 thus preventing any possibility of the rubber washer 56 sticking to the face 60, should the valve be held in a closed position for a long period of time. After the fountain is installed the valve core remains in the closed position shown in Figure 6 until the discharge hole of the jet21 is closed either by pressing a finger upon the tip of the jet or by placing the reservoir 11. within the container, the water pressure then equalizes itself above and, below the conical seat 51 and face 50 and the core drops to the normal position shownvin Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4.

The weight of the core 48 allows the passage of water past the shoulder 53 and enlargement 49 whenever the disk 16 is raised.

I claim as my invention:

1. In combination, an upwardly open container; at reservoir loosely disposed for up and down movement within the container; water supply means for the container controlled by the rise and fall, of the reservoir; a cover over the container having a downturned rim closely surrounding the outer periphery of the container, said rim having alower. outwardly extended part and an upturned rim cooperating with said part and downturned rim to form an upwardly open annular trough surrounding the container; and a siphon tube extended. from the reservoir, through they cover, over said downturned rim and down into said trough.

2., In combination, an. upwardly openv container; a member disposed liquid tight through the lower part of the container and having a bore adapted to discharge into the container and provided with a seat around its lower end; means for controlling the passage of water through said bore; conduit means providing a passage having a large diameter upper bore removably receiving said member, a smaller diameter lower bore having a downwardly faced face around its lower end, an upwardly disposed shoulder between said bores and a larger diameter conduit portion below said face; a valve core in said passage provided near the upper end with a face engageable with said seat when the core rises and a flat face engageable with said shoulder when the core falls; and a washer on the lower part of the core and adapted to be by water-pressure moved upwardly and pressed against the lower face to prevent water flow when said member is removed.

3. In combination, an upwardly open container; a member disposed liquid tight through the lower part of the container and having a bore adapted to discharge into the container and provided with a seat around its lower end; control means for at times closing said bore for controlling the passage of water through said bore; conduit means providing a passage having a large diameter upper bore removably receiving said member, a smaller diameter lower bore having a downwardly faced face around its lower end, an upwardly disposed shoulder between said bores and a larger diameter portion below said face; a valve core in said passage provided near the upper end with a head having a conical face engageable with said seat when the core rises and a lower fiat face engageable with said shoulder when the core falls; and a washer on the lower part of the core and adapted to be by water pressure pressed against the lower face to prevent water flow when said member is removed; said conical face, when said member is inserted, engaging said seat, and holding the'passage closed until the control means closes the bore of said member, whereupon pressures on said head are neutralized and the core drops.

4. In combination, an upwardly open container; a threaded jet body disposed liquid tight through the lower part of said portion and having a vertical bore adapted to discharge into the container and provided with a conical seat around its lower end; means controlled by the water level in the container for closing said bore for controlling the passage of water through said bore; a valve body having exterior threads and having a passage therethrough having a threaded large diameter upper bore receiving said threaded body and a small diameter lower bore, and an upwardly disposed shoulder therebetween; a supply pipe having its upper end threaded on the valve body; a valve core in said passage provided near the upper end with an enlargement having an upper conical face engageable with said conical seat when the core rises and a fiat face engageable with said shoulder when the core falls to normal operative position; and a transverse washer mounted on the lower part of the core and adapted to be pressed upwardly against the lower face of said valve body by water flow to prevent water flow when said jet body is removed.

5. In combination, a container having a large diameter annular outer wall; an upwardly pointed jet body disposed fast and liquid tight through the lower part of said container and having a large lower threaded portion, and a vertical bore having a lower conical seat therearound; a reservoir disposed for up and down movement within the container having a downwardly facing sealing disc on its lower part adapted to rest on and rise from the jet; conduit means providing a vertical passage having a large threaded upper-part adapted to receive said threaded portion liquid tight when the body is rotated by rotating said wall, and a small diameter intermediate part providing upwardly facing shoulder and a downwardly facing lower face respectively above and below the intermediate part; a valve core in said passage provided with an upper enlargement having an upper conical face adapted to be by water pressure held on said conical seat when the core rises and having a bottom face adapted to fall to said shoulder when the reservoir causes said sealing disc to close said bore and equalize the water pressure in the enlargement; and a washer on the lower part of the core adapted to be by water flow pressed against said lower face to prevent continued Water fiow when said body is removed by rotating said annular outer wall and to be moved from said lower face by rotation of the container causing said body to press on said enlargement.

6. In combination, a container; a reservoir loose in the container having a lower sealing disc; a jet body disposed fast through the lower part of said container and having a threaded lower portion and a discharge bore adapted to be closed by saiddisc and having a lower seat; conduit means providing a vertical passage having a threaded upper part adapted to receive said threaded portion liquid tight by rotating the container, and a small intermediate part providing an upper shoulder and a lower face; a valve core in said passage having an upper enlargement adapted to be by water pressure held on said seat and to fall to said shoulderwhen the reservoir and sealing disc close said bore and equalize pressure on the enlargement; and a washer on the core adapted to be pressed against said lower face by water flow to prevent water flow when said body is removed by rotating said container and to be moved from said lower face by said body pressing on said enlargement.

7. In combination, a container; an upwardly open reservoir loose in the container having a lower sealing disc; a jet body disposed fast through the bottom of said container and having a lowerlarge threaded portion and a vertical bore adapted to be closed by said disc and having a lower seat therearound; conduit means providing a vertical passage having a threaded diameter upper part to receive said threaded portion and a small diameter intermediate part forming an upper shoulder and a lower face; a valve core in said passage provided with an enlargement adapted to be disposed on said seat and to fall to said shoulder; and a washer on the core adapted to press against said lower face when said body is removed and to be moved from said lower face by said body pressing on said enlargement.

8. An automatic drinking fountain comprising an upwardly open container having a substantially vertical outer wall; an upwardly open reservoir disposed for up and down movement within the container; a water supply for the container operatively connected to the reservoir for controlling said supply; an upwardly open vessel exterior to the container; a cover over the container having a substantially vertical downturned rim surrounding said outer wall; and a siphon tube extended from the lower part of the reservoir, through the cover, over said wall and down into said vessel; said rim surrounding and engageable with said outer wall with a close loose sliding fit whereby a quick downward movement of the cover, may cause air to press upon the water in the reservoir for causing the water level to rise in the siphon to cause the water to pass up into and through the siphon to start the siphon operating.

9. An automatic drinking fountain comprising an upwardly open container having a substantially vertical cylindrical outer wall; an upwardly open reservoir loosely disposed for up and down movement within the container; a sealing disk on the lower part of the reservoir; a water supply jet projecting upwardly into the container and adapted to be engaged by said disk; an upwardly open vessel exterior to the container; a cover over the container having a small upper opening and a substantially cylindrical vertical downturned rim surrounding said wall; and a siphon tube extended from the lower part of the reservoir, through the cover, over said rim and wall and down into said reservoir; said rim surrounding and engageable with said outer wall with a close loose sliding fit whereby air blown into the cover through said opening, or a quick downward movement of the cover,

may cause air to press upon the water in the reservoir for causing water to pass up into and through the siphon to start the siphon operating.

10. in combination, an upwardly open container; an upwardly pointed jet body disposed 'fast and liquid tight through the lower part of said container and having a large threaded lower portion and a vertical bore through the body having a downwardly facing lower conical seat therearound; conduit means having a vertical passage therethrough having a large threaded upper part adapted to receive said lower portion liquid tight and a small diameter intermediate part providin an upwardly facing shoulder and a downwardly facing lower face respectively above and below said intermediate part; a valve core loose in said passage and provided with an upper enlargement having an upper conical face adapted to enga e said seal; a washer on the lower part of the core adapted to be by water flow pressed upwardly against said lower face to prevent continuation of water flow when said jet body is removed by rotating said container and to be moved from said lower face by said conical seat pressing on said upper conical face when said body is secured liquid tight in said threaded upper part, said core and washer being light enough in weight to allow said upper conical face to be held by water pressure in sealing contact against said conical seat when the upper end of said bore is open, and heavy enough to overcome said sealing contact and fall when the upper end of the bore is closed; and an upwardly open reservoir loosely disposed within the container having a downwardly facing sealing disc on its lower part to rest on and rise from the jet for controlling water flow in the bore; the reservoir being heavy enough when partly filled with water to cause the sealing member to close the bore, permitting pressures on the valve core to equalize, resulting in breaking the sealing contact, and cause the core to fall.

11. In combination, an upwardly open container; an upwardly pointed jet body disposed fast and liquid tight through the lower part of said container and having a large lower threaded portion and a vertical bore through the body having a downwardly facing lower conical seat therearound; an upwardly open reservoir loosely disposed for up and down movement within the container having a downwardly facing sealing disc on its lower part adapted to rest on and rise from the jet for controlling water flow in the bore; conduit means providing a vertical passage therethrough having a large threaded upper part adapted to receive said threaded lower portion liquid tight and a small diameter intermediate part providing an upwardly facing shoulder and a downwardly facing lower face respectively above and below the intermediate part; a valve core in said passage provided with an upper enlargement having an upper conical face adapted to engage said seat; and a washer on the lower part of the core adapted to be pressed upwardly against said lower face by water flow to prevent water flow when said jet body is removed by rotating said container and to be moved from said lower face by said conical seat pressing on said upper conical face, when the body is inserted and secured liquid tight in said threaded upper part, thereby causing said upper conical face to be held by water pressure against said conical seat when the sealing disk is away from the jet; the weight of said core being such that when the sealing disk closes the jet body and equalizes the water pressure on said enlargement, said valve core falls and said conical upper face leaves said seat.

12. An automatic drinking fountain comprising an upwardly open container having an outer wall member; an upwardly open reservoir disposed for up and down movement within the container; 21 water supply for the container operatively connected to the reservoir for controlling said supply; an upwardly open vessel exterior to the container on a level with the reservoir; a cover over the container having a downturncd rim member sursaid outer wall member; one of said members being substantially vertical and a siphon tube extended from the lower part of the reservoir, through the cover, over said wall member and down into said vessel; said rim member surrounding and engageable with said outer wall member with a close loose sliding lit, and in major part spaced from the wall member, whereby quick downward movement of the cover, may cause air to press upon the water in the reservoir for causing the water level to rise in the siphon to cause the water to pass up into and through the siphon to start the siphon operating.

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